Gillingham chairman Paul Scally expects tough new year as teams line up to topple the League 2 leaders

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally has acknowledged that life can
be tough at the top.

The club have been in pole position all season but teams are
putting in that extra bit of effort to try and beat the league
leaders.

The Boxing Day defeat at home to Barnet is the most recent
example, with the visitors looking a shadow of a side struggling at
the foot of the table.

Mr Scally, pictured, said: "It is going to be a tough
second half (of the season) because obviously when you are at the
top everyone wants to beat you and they raise their game.

"But I think if anyone had offered us that (being top) at the
start of the season we would have been happy to take it.

"The Barnet defeat was disappointing for everyone and it is
always a down when you are beaten. We have to move on and what is
good about this team is that they are very positive, the players
are very honest and we are very focused on the next game."

Mr Scally is able to watch live Gillingham home games in Dubai,
from a feed at the ground, so he can see just what is happening.
And he is delighted with the impact Martin Allen has made
at the club.

He said: "We did take time to get the right man but I knew
Martin. I have been very impressed with the way he and his
management team have come in and got themselves organised."